T
Checkmate
by Jmas
A danger to himself or others? Daniel?
Jack wondered if that head doctor realized how ludicrous that
sounded. The greatest danger Daniel posed to himself was forgetting
to eat or sleep when he got too wrapped up in studying his
latest rock. The other members of SG-1 had come to understand
and accept that facet of Daniel's personality and had developed
their own habit of checking up on the young scientist; taking
him food or sometimes, literally, dragging him off to bed.
Not exactly normal behavior, Jack conceded, but that doesn't
make him nuts, it's just normal for Daniel. And nothing anyone
could ever say would convince Jack that Daniel could be a danger
to his teammates.
Jack found himself watching Daniel's face as the younger
man concentrated on their chess game, just as intent on it
as he would be on one of his stone tablets. Daniel didn't do
things halfway, he poured all of his energy into the task at
hand.
The doctors had decided that Daniel needed to be isolated
until he either got better or manifested more symptoms. Jack
could see the apprehension in his friend's eyes when Dr. MacKenzie,
the military psychiatrist that General Hammond had called in,
had impassively delivered his diagnosis. Oh, yeah, Jack thought,
We're just locking you up because you hear things the rest
of us don't. Even with that, nothing would convince Jack that
this was anything more than stress. God knew they all had gone
through more than their share of that lately.
Not that Jack had ever really told Daniel, but he had a lot
of respect and admiration for Daniel's seemingly endless store
of knowledge. More than once, Jack had felt like a hopelessly
dim schoolboy under Daniel's rapid-fire delivery of obscure
facts. Now as Jack watched Daniel's brow furrowing, it seemed
that he was working harder at this chess game than he usually
had to.
Probably the medication, Jack thought. Daniel hated the thought
of taking as much as an aspirin if wasn't absolutely neccessary.
It hadn't taken Jack long to make Daniel realize that it was
a choice between the pills or Mackenzie carting him off to
the rubber room right then and there. Between the pain medication
for the migraines and that anti-delusional junk that Daniel
had protested taking the most, it was a wonder Daniel was even
functioning.
Jack made a move that placed Daniel's queen in check, which
was closer than he'd ever gotten to winning at chess with Daniel
and any other time he'd be enjoying it. Right now, I'd be happier
if he creamed me in the usual 20 minutes, Jack thought glumly.
Daniel looked up at Jack in surprise and Jack could see the
worry in his friend's eyes. Daniel was usually so confident
in his proven abilities, it was as if that confidence had been
shaken to the core by the things that had been happening since
they'd entered that Linvris chamber. Wormholes in the closet?
Jack had to admit it did sound a little nuts, but he knew his
friend and if Daniel said it happened, then there had to be
some kind of logical explanation for it.
Jack watched as Daniel moved to checkmate his queen, complaining
that he could have done it two moves ago. Jack was sure of
that, but was oddly comforted by the words. As Daniel looked
up at him again, those expressive blue eyes seemed to speak
volumes. He appreciated Jack being there...once again standing
by him in troubled times.
So much pain and responsibility rested on those slim young
shoulders that sometimes Jack wondered how Daniel had held
it together through it all. But Jack also knew that Daniel
possessed a core of strength that rivaled, if not surpassed,
his own and God knew Jack had come closer than he would ever
admit to that dark edge of madness. Daniel had helped him through
many troubled times with his compassion, quick wit and enormously
caring heart. Sometimes Jack envied Daniel that ability to
take things into his own heart and soul without fear. Now he
just hoped that Daniel hadn't taken on one thing too many.
Whatever happened, Jack silently promised his friend, they
would get through it together. At that moment Daniel caught
his eyes again and the promise passed silently between them.
Jack saw the understanding and gratitude shine brightly in
Daniel's eyes for a moment, before the moment passed. Jack
deflected any comments with a gruff suggestion that they play
gin; Daniel stunk at gin. Daniel reminded his friend of that,
but got up to get the cards.
As Jack watched his friend's tense back, he renewed the vow.
Whatever happened, Daniel would not go through it alone.
The End
